The just one, because of his faith, shall live

Last updated on: March 25, 2016 at 6:25 pm by Father Pablo Migone

The just one, because of his faith, shall live 2016-03-25T18:25:00-05:00 Father Pablo Migone

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

[Homily for the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C]

In the reading today the prophet Habakkuk is discouraged. He is despairing and losing his faith. Things are not unfolding as expected so he complains to God. He implores God in the midst of a terrible situation, full of violence, strife and oppression.

God doesn’t do as Habakkuk asks, getting rid of the violence and strife. Though these continue, the words of God greatly encourage the prophet, reminding him to hold on to his faith and to be patient: “The vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, and it will not be late. The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.

In the midst of turmoil, God asks for faithfulness, for patience and for integrity. In the midst of turmoil, the appropriate response is faith, to trust that God is in control.

But this is so difficult! We like to resolve problems immediately and resolve them our way. We like to have control. We want things to be dealt with efficiently. It is difficult to wait while God’s plan unfolds. It is difficult to keep our faith in God strong when things don’t go as we hoped. We despair, blame God and some even consult mediums that take their hard-earned money in attempts to uncover secret information or to control situations.

Our desire to control situations and to control others, I believe, is the root of much anger, anxiety and depression. God invites us to trust, to have faith in Him. We don’t want to trust, we want to control. This desire to ‘be like God’ and to control leaves us so unhappy because this desire will never be satisfied. It leads to anger, anxiety and depression.

We can kick and scream all we want, but the reality remains that we only have control over very few things. We must recognize what few things we can control and allow God to take care of the rest. Then we can say, “we are unprofitable servants; we have done all we were obliged to do.”

There are no words more liberating than these: “Lord, I have done everything I can do, though limited; you take care of the rest because I can’t.” There is no prayer more liberating than the serenity prayer, “ God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

Why allow anxiety infect our minds? Why allow anger disturb our peace? Why allow depression crush the joy that comes from placing our faith in God? God wants us to let go and be free.

All of us, we are God’s servants. Our duty is to accept and do His will each day of our lives. Like the servant in the Gospel passage who was ready to serve his master even after a long day at work, we too must be ready at all times to serve God.

We do not need to know the big picture nor do we need to have everything figured out to be faithful servants. A faithful servant lives one day at a time, trusting that his master will lead him to the correct destination. One day at a time God’s plan for our lives unfolds. If I do not know what will happen tomorrow, it’s OK, as long as I am being faithful today. If I am faithful today, when tomorrow comes I will also be faithful then.

We must not be like Habakkuk who grew discouraged and despaired, on the other hand, we are called to trust, to have faith, that one day at a time God’s plan will unfold and that we will see greater things than a mulberry tree being uprooted and planted in the sea.

God works slowly but surely. Over time, mountains move. Over time, hearts are changed.

We must place our trust in our merciful God who has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but rather of power, love and self-control. We must trust that his plan or vision presses on to fulfillment and will not disappoint. If it delays, we must wait patiently, for it will surely come and it will not be late. All in His time and in His manner.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

October 5, 2013

The Rosary in Modern Times

Next Post

October 7, 2013 Battle of Lepanto and the Rosary

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Article Catholic Lima Christmas Commentary History Homily Immigration martyrs Meditation Pope Reflection Saint Story Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 January 2010 June 2009 September 2008 August 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which book records the walls of Jerusalem being rebuilt?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Nehemiah Malachi Haggai Ezra